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Looking to Grab a HomePod Before They're Gone? These Retailers Still Have Stock

This is a prime example of what happens when you start to build solutions to problems that don't exist in your current line up. Let speaker companies build speakers. Focus on your core product roadmap, not these one off weirdo projects.

If anything there should have been a replacement for the AirPort basestations that had speaker integrated for Siri. Maybe build a HomePod mini with wifi mesh.
 
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TVreporter said:
I can’t see Apple completely ditching the technology in the HP.

Give it a year or two and it will return in a new form HP Pro or Max or Plus or combined with the Apple TV in some form.

I never got one solely based on price - dropped down to $400 in Canada. Still too much for my liking.
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I don’t think so. Once it’s gone it’s gone. They could make a soundbar with AppleTV built in.
 
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mcfrazieriv said:
This is a prime example of what happens when you start to build solutions to problems that don't exist in your current line up. Let speaker companies build speakers. Focus on your core product roadmap, not these one off weirdo projects.

If anything there should have been a replacement for the AirPort basestations that had speaker integrated for Siri. Maybe build a HomePod mini with wifi mesh.
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I would love an AirPort basestation that acted as a home media hub. Give it a large hard drive so I can save my iTunes library on there and access it from anywhere.
 
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Aeronauts said:
I would love an AirPort basestation that acted as a home media hub. Give it a large hard drive so I can save my iTunes library on there and access it from anywhere.
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It sounds like you’d enjoy some actually practical and useful products that fit a need...as opposed to things trying to find a problem to solve while pumping services revenue along the way...

the horror!
/s
 
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AppleMad98004 said:
I wonder if Apple TV is next? It hasn't been updated for about the same length of time and uses the same outdated processor.
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If anything, Apple will update it possibly with a game edition with controllers. Smart TV’s may have the app but the hardware on many Smart TV’s [usually] isn’t enough to handle a lot of content. I have 180TB’s of 1080p - 8K movies with stereo and lossless surround sound tracks on server racks in my main home theatre with a McIntosh AVR and B&W speaks. I usually use players for 4K and 8K but often times I’ll use my Apple TV 4K with Infuse or Plex unless I‘m playing ATMOS (a whole other issue with licensing fees Apple needs to work out as it’s ridiculous the Apple TV 4K doesn’t support the codec when other players like Shield do - as a beta tester with Firecore for Infuse it’s a much discussed topic with years of petitions to Apple for support).

Even newer Smart TV’s from Sony, LG, etc have difficulty playing some MP4’s with default stereo tracks that my Apple TV 4K has no issue playing. I can’t see Apple relying on other manufacturers to support the Apple TV app especially when they’re pushing hard into the streaming market with their own content. The HomePod was surprising especially as Apple added ATMOS support to them but not the Apple TV - yet. If anything, Apple will most likely update the Apple TV with a faster processor and support for more codecs if they have done so with a now discontinued product and up the storage.

Although I am surprised apple left the networking market when 90% of their products rely on solid Internet as they’re pushing harder into streaming services. Apple should have purchased another company and brought them in-house if they didn’t want to develop mesh systems. Maybe adding mesh to the Apple TV as it acts as a HomeKit hub or re-enter the network market with a new HomePod that has mesh integrated to differentiate it from the mini. That would be a smart move.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
@CJ Dorschel

I'm all in on that..

Segment the Apple TV space and go down and up and get out of the middle.

Apple TV and Apple TV Pro

Make the former a stick with remote, and the latter a box with high end everything and a game controller.
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Exactly - and I can’t claim credit for that idea as a lot of people have been pondering such a move.

The Apple TV isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a product that supports a lot of Apple’s services and Apple keeps adding more to it. Apple Arcade and Gaming would benefit from a dedicated Apple TV Gaming Edition. Throw in a mesh system to make it a full fledged home hub for Apple services and HomeKit with support for more audio codecs and just throw in a better ARM processor with GPU - now we’re talking.
 
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SirAnthonyHopkins said:
My question really is at what point do they stop providing security updates and does it then become a risk in my network? I'm pretty sure they'll be able to access Apple Music and be used for AirPlay for some time yet.
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I've gotten firmware updates to AirPort Extreme and Express routers YEARS after they were discontinued. I'm sure there will be maintenance releases for security stuff.
 
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I got 2 at $199 but I would and will not pay $299. I hope they don’t stop updating the software.
 
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Please remove if not allowed!

I ranted about this a little bit here:

I don’t think it was “too expensive.” I think they were aiming at the wrong market. People are more than ok with “ok” audio that has the smart elements nailed. Apple tried to take the high-quality audio first approach and it didn’t work. Why spend 350$-400$ when you could buy several Echo or Google Home devices? Also, it was so locked down at launch, an odd choice IMO. It’s improved greatly but a little too late.
 
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nvmls said:
Sound could be the best on earth, its functionality is still a joke.
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But what if sound quality is the functionality you wanted? To me, two of them sound way better than the $800 Sonos sound bar I bought recently. Frankly, I don't want the other 'functionality.' They are just ways to suck money out of my pocket and make my life more complicated than necessary.
 
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trichardlin said:
But what if sound quality is the functionality you wanted? To me, two of them sound way better than the $800 Sonos sound bar I bought recently. Frankly, I don't want the other 'functionality.' They are just ways to suck money out of my pocket and make my life more complicated than necessary.
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"Hey Siri, make my life simpler"

Siri: "Homepod is not a sampler"
 
diamornte said:
Still very upset by this news as an owner of several HomePods, mini and non-mini. ..
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I wonder how often you upgrade your phone? Most people upgrade their much more expensive phone every 2-3 years. I'm sure your HomePod will continue to function for many years to come. Why getting yourself all riled up?
 
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trichardlin said:
I wonder how often you upgrade your phone? Most people upgrade their much more expensive phone every 2-3 years. I'm sure your HomePod will continue to function for many years to come. Why getting yourself all riled up?
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I own a homepod also, and while in the scheme of things it wasn't as expensive as an iphone, it's disconcerting to see Apple discontinue it in such a short time. But I agree, the useful life should be many years to come.
 
sflagel said:
Young people almost only listen to music on headphones. My 13-year old sits at her desk or lies on her bed with earphones; no interest in speakers.
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Exactly. It’s their escape from their surroundings. They’d only use speakers if they had their own house all to themselves which no young people do. And sadly many adults become too busy to sit and listen to music.
 
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There weren't enough folks who didn't already have a smart speaker or nice hifi audio to buy these. Even for people of means, $300 is a big price tag to replace something that works just fine.

We got one marked down and its in the kitchen and we love it, it's sounds great, but for the purposes we use it, I would have been just a happy with a Sonos 1 with Siri support that worked with the rest of the Sonos speakers in the house.
 
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